Flooring



Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED Ns'rpfrr-:sl

PATENT OFFICE FLOORING Application Maren 26, 1936, serial No. 70,919

claims. (ci. ,2o-s) This invention relates to improvements in flooringfor use in various structures such as vehicle bodies, store buildings,residences and` other constructions wherein a rigid floor of greatstrength is required An object of the invention is to provide acomposite iloor body of metal and wood or a substitute for wood soformed that the metal and wood constituents of the body sustain eachother in their relative positions thus to resist flexure of the oor bodywhen placed under stress as when supporting a heavy load. Another objectis to afford a thin oor body capable of sustaining a considerable loadwhen supported only around its margins thus to eliminate the necessityof providing underlying supports intermediate its margins. Other objectsand advantages of the invention will appear in the followingdescription.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:-

Fig. l is a perspective view of a metallic reinforce for a compositefloor structure;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a oor formed in accordance with theinvention; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view projected from Fig. 2.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a ilat slab ofuniform thickness and shaped to correspond with the structure (notshown) in which it is used to form the flooring thereof.

The slab is constituted of a metallic reinforce I formed of thin sheetmetal shaped so as to provide parallel channels 2, 3, 4 and 5 andintervening contiguous channels E, I and 8. The channels 2 to 5inclusive are open at the bottom and the channels 6 to B inclusive areopen at the top. The vertical walls S, I0, Il, I2, I3 and I4 are commonwith respect to the corresponding adjacent channels, and the tops I5 ofthe open-bottom channels lie in a common plane'and also the bottoms I6of the open-top channels 6, 1 and 8 lie in a common plane spaced fromand parallel with respect to the plane of the tops I5.

If desired, the outermost vertical wall I1 of an endmost channel I5 maybe provided with a ange I8 that extends in the plane of the bottoms I6for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. In each of the open-bottomchannels 2, 3, land 5 is disposed lling material, preferably constitutedof one or more strips of wood I9 that are held compactly in thecorresponding channels between the vertical walls thereof, and in eachof the open-top channels 6, 'I and 8 likewise is disposed llingmaterial, similarly constituted of one or more strips of wood 20 thatare held com- -pactly in the corresponding channels between theirvertical walls. When the channels are thus completely filled, thevertical walls of the channels are confined rigidly between the llers ofthe corresponding adjacent channels and are thereby prevented frombuckling when the ooring is strained or stressed because of an overloadif placed thereon.

In order that the fillers I9 and 20 are more intimately associated withthe reinforce, an adhesive such as asphalt or similar binding agent isapplied so as to enhance permanency between the parts of the fillersthemselves and between the fillers and the surfaces of the reinforceadjacent thereto. The slab thus formed is solid and of great rigidity asthe vertical walls of the channels, although formed of thin plate metal,are firmly confined between the llers in the open top and open-bottomchannels so that lateral yielding of the vertical walls when the flooris loaded is circumvented and the slab is maintained substantially inits normal plane.

A bottom for the slab is provided which consists preferably of ametallic plate 2l that is secured in place so as to lie against thebottoms of the fillers I9 and bottoms I6 of the open-top channels.

As a means for securing the plate in place fasteners 22, such as nails,or screws, are inserted through the plate into the fillers. Also,if/desired, one side of the plate 2| may be provided with a flange 23that is upturned so as to overlap the outer wall 24 of the adjacentchannel (2). This ange is conveniently secured against the reinforce bysuitable fasteners 25 that are driven through the ange and outer wallinto the filling material. The opposite side of the plate, if desired,is provided with a fold 26 that is clinched over the flange I8, thus tosecure the adjacent vertical wall of the reinforce against the adjacentller and provide a reinforced flange by which to secure the slab to thebuilding structure (not shown).

A cover 21 of any suitable material, such as laminated wood veneer orany other floor surfacing, is provided for the slab. 'I'he cover extendsover and lies upon the tops I5 of the openbottom channels and the topsurfaces of the llers 20 in the open-top channels. The cover is securedin place by any suitable means, such as fasteners 28 that are driventhrough the cover into the underlying ller material, or the fasteners,if desired, may be driven through the cover and the tops I5 into thefiller material in the open-bottom channels, as indicated by 29 in Fig.3.

Where practicable, it is desirable to make the reinforce ofa singlesheet of metal bent so that the open-bottom and open-top channels areformed in alternate arrangement in successive order. Where slabs ofconsiderable breadth are required a number of reinforces may beconnected side by side by providing any suitable connecting means (notshown) for their attachment.

In practice, the slabs are preferably prepared to have the requireddimensions as to length, breadth and thickness, and shaped to be bodilyfitted into place when subsequently installed in the structure where itis to be used.

What I claim isz- 1. Flooring constituted of a reinforce of thin sheetmetal, shaped to have alternate open-bottom and open-top channelsdisposed in successive order, the outer wall of an endmost channelhaving at its lower edge a lateral flange, fillers disposed in all ofsaid channels adapted to firmly confine therebetween the vertical wallsof said reinforce, a plate forming the bottom of said flooring securedto said reinforce and fillers, one side of said plate having an upturnedflange overlapping the outer wall of an endmost channel and securedthereto, the opposite side of said plate having a fold clinched over theflange of said reinforce, and a cover extending over and secured to saidreinforce and fillers.

2. Flooring constituted of a reinforce of thin sheet metal, shaped tohave alternate open-bottom and open-top channels disposed in successiveorder, fillers disposed in all of said channels adapted to firmlyconfine therebetween the ver- ,osaaia'" tical walls of said reinforce, aplate forming the bottom of said ooring secured to said reinforce andfillers, and a cover extending over and secured to said reinforce andfillers.

3. Flooring constituted of a fiat slab made up of a reinforce of thinsheet metal shaped to have a series of open-bottom and open-top channelsarranged alternately in successive order, fillers disposed in saidchannels firmly confining therebetween the vertical walls of saidchannels, a plate forming the bottom of said slab secured to saidfillers, and a cover forming the top of said slab secured to saidfillers, said reinforce and fillers being confined firmly between saidplate and cover.

4. Flooring constituted of ailat slab made up of a reinforce of thinsheet metal shaped to have a series of open-bottom and open-top channelsarranged alternately in successive order, fillers disposed in saidchannels firmly conning therebetween the vertical walls of saidchannels, and a cover forming the top of said slab secured to saidfillers, said reinforce and fillers being confined firmly between saidplateand cover.

5. Flooring constituted of a fiat slab made up of a reinforce of thinsheet metal shaped to have a series of open-bottom and open-top channelsarranged alternately in successive order, fillers disposed in saidchannels firmly confining therebetween the vertical walls of saidchannels, and a plate forming the bottom of said slab secured to saidfillers.

CLEM G. BRANSTRATOR.

